220-1102 Data Destruction and Disposal Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of data destruction and disposal. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
During a security audit, it is discovered that an old server's hard drives were simply deleted and the server was sold to a recycler. The recycler later reported finding readable files on the drives. Which data disposal standard was violated?
NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, requiring overwriting or destruction. Deleting files does not meet these standards.
B
PCI DSS
Why wrong: PCI DSS applies to payment card data, but the core violation here is failure to follow proper sanitization procedures, which NIST SP 800-88 addresses.
C
HIPAA
Why wrong: HIPAA mandates protection of health information but does not specify technical disposal methods; NIST SP 800-88 is the relevant standard for data destruction.
D
ISO 27001
Why wrong: ISO 27001 is a management standard, not a specific disposal procedure. The violation is not following NIST SP 800-88 sanitization steps.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
NIST SP 800-88
Simply deleting files or formatting does not meet data destruction standards. Proper methods like overwriting, degaussing, or physical destruction are required to ensure data is unrecoverable.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
NIST SP 800-88
Why this is correct
NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, requiring overwriting or destruction. Deleting files does not meet these standards.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
PCI DSS
Why it's wrong here
PCI DSS applies to payment card data, but the core violation here is failure to follow proper sanitization procedures, which NIST SP 800-88 addresses.
✗
HIPAA
Why it's wrong here
HIPAA mandates protection of health information but does not specify technical disposal methods; NIST SP 800-88 is the relevant standard for data destruction.
✗
ISO 27001
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27001 is a management standard, not a specific disposal procedure. The violation is not following NIST SP 800-88 sanitization steps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Data Destruction and Disposal — This question tests Data Destruction and Disposal — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NIST SP 800-88 — Simply deleting files or formatting does not meet data destruction standards. Proper methods like overwriting, degaussing, or physical destruction are required to ensure data is unrecoverable.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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